Mackay mayor hits back at 'chardonnay-sipping' Alan Jones

THE Mayor of Mackay has hit back at Sydney shock jock Alan Jones, who blasts the multi-billion dollar Adani mega mine in a new TV ad.

The popular broadcaster, who fronts the latest campaign for Lock the Gate, slams the idea for taxpayers' money to fund the $16.5 billion coal mine in Queensland's north.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson slammed Jones and the Lock the Gate advocates, saying Sydney-siders "sipping their chardonnay in their million-dollar Sydney mansions" didn't have any right to comment on the project.

They don't know anything about north Queensland, nor do they care," Cr Williamson said. "Alan Jones can run his campaign but they (Adani) are going to build their new generation coal mine.

"It is lunacy to say we should be stopping Adani's coal explorations and the development of the Carmichael mine because they think somehow or other it'll save global warming.

"They should be campaigning about how Australia has the highest electricity prices in the world.

"Adani can generate power in India at a quarter of the cost.

"There's no coherent argument against it that stacks up anywhere."

Alan Jones slams Adani:
Broadcaster leads the battle against Adani.

The Carmichael projects are set to generate 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, with pre-construction works starting in the September quarter 2017.

In the campaign, Jones claims the mine's owners will "get their water for nothing", have been accused of transferring tax and benefits to the Cayman Islands and have family members before the courts in India.

Cr Williamson said campaigners were failing to look at the bigger picture.

"It's not just jobs for Queenslanders, it's opening up the Galilee Basin with the construction of a rail line which allows us to deliver a port access to acres of Queensland territory we could have never had access to before," he said.

"For us it's a win-win situation.

"The taxpayer is making an investment that is opening up north Queensland and it'll be an investment that is paid back."